The number of Russian companies in Georgia hits all-time highs. More than 35,000 companies in the country are owned by Russian citizens or companies, of which about 26,000 were registered in recent years, after the start of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
Apart from that, Russia is Georgia's most important trading partner, and Russian companies' interest in Georgia is growing every year.
However, for some businessmen, the current relations between Georgia and Russia are not enough, and in a bid to further strengthen the ties, the "Georgian-Russian Business Association" was established. The Georgian-Russian Business Association was officially registered on January 28, 2025. According to the official extract, the association’s board consists of several members, all of whom hold dual Georgian and Russian citizenship. The chairman and board member is Zaza Nishnianidze. Other board members include Lavrenti Anchabadze, Vakhtang Karichashvili, Badri Kakabadze, and Davit Kharaidze. Additionally, the general director of the association is Marat Shaidaev, while the executive director is Giorgi Muskhelishvili.
At a conference dedicated to the creation of the Georgian-Russian Business Association, it was announced that apart from the board members, the Association would unite about 60 Georgian and Russian companies operating in agriculture, energy and trade.
Commersant tried to clarify the details of the Association's activities and sent the organization an official letter, as well as get in touch with several businessmen participated in the conference, including the Chkhaidze brothers, but its representatives refrain from specifying the details about the Association's activities.
What do we know about the Georgian-Russian Business Association?
At the conference dedicated to the establishment of the Georgian-Russian Business Association, it was said that the objective of the association is to eliminate barriers faced by Georgian and Russian companies in Georgia and Russia, as well as to promote the development of trade relations between the two countries.
At the meeting, business sector representatives noted that up to 700,000 people are involved in carrying out exports from Georgia to Russia, which means that the Georgian-Russian Business Association and the elimination of the current challenges are important for the business sectors of both countries.
In the words of the head of the Georgian-Russian Business Association in Georgia, businessman Zaza Nishnianidze, “these people really lack attention, since this issue is generally taboo, and businesses also also under this pressure,” so they will try to institutionally boost this process.
"There are many people involved in the process." [...] For example, Badri Kakabadze, a well-known businessman in both Georgia and Russia; Marad Shaidiev, who is also active in both countries; Levan and Temur Anchabadze, Jimmy Chkhaidze... There were other businessmen and entrepreneurs. "There are some movements from Russia, many want to join, but nothing concrete yet," says the head of the Association and refrains from specifying further details.
One of the association members, businessman Marat Shaidaev, said at the conference that the need to create such an organization had been long overdue.
"The creation of the Georgian-Russian Economic Association very important for the two states. We all expect that the Association will resolved a very large number of problems faced by the businessmen on both sides of the border. The need to create such an organization has been long overdue, and now, finally, it has been established. "I think that the both sides will be involved , and I am sure that this organization will have a bright future," Shaidaev notes.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the Georgian Dream Levan Davitashvili hails the creation of the Georgian-Russian Business Association noting that to coordinate work with organized business is much more easy.
Commersant continues to work on the topic and is trying to contact the businessmen named by Zaza Nishnianidze and find out details about the Association’s activities.
